Understanding the Antisemitism Crisis in the British Labour Party
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'Opposition-Craft': an Evaluative Framework for Official Opposition Parties in the United Kingdom Edward Henry Lack Submitte
‘Opposition-Craft’: An Evaluative Framework for Official Opposition Parties in the United Kingdom Edward Henry Lack Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of PhD The University of Leeds, School of Politics and International Studies May, 2020 1 Intellectual Property and Publications Statements The candidate confirms that the work submitted is his own and that appropriate credit has been given where reference has been made to the work of others. This copy has been supplied on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. ©2020 The University of Leeds and Edward Henry Lack The right of Edward Henry Lack to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 2 Acknowledgements Page I would like to thank Dr Victoria Honeyman and Dr Timothy Heppell of the School of Politics and International Studies, The University of Leeds, for their support and guidance in the production of this work. I would also like to thank my partner, Dr Ben Ramm and my parents, David and Linden Lack, for their encouragement and belief in my efforts to undertake this project. Finally, I would like to acknowledge those who took part in the research for this PhD thesis: Lord David Steel, Lord David Owen, Lord Chris Smith, Lord Andrew Adonis, Lord David Blunkett and Dame Caroline Spelman. 3 Abstract This thesis offers a distinctive and innovative framework for the study of effective official opposition politics in the United Kingdom. -
Antisemitism in the Radical Left and the British Labour Party, by Dave Rich
Kantor Center Position Papers Editor: Mikael Shainkman January 2018 ANTISEMITISM IN THE RADICAL LEFT AND THE BRITISH LABOUR PARTY Dave Rich* Executive Summary Antisemitism has become a national political issue and a headline story in Britain for the first time in decades because of ongoing problems in the Labour Party. Labour used to enjoy widespread Jewish support but increasing left wing hostility towards Israel and Zionism, and a failure to understand and properly oppose contemporary antisemitism, has placed increasing distance between the party and the UK Jewish community. This has emerged under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, a product of the radical 1960s New Left that sees Israel as an apartheid state created by colonialism, but it has been building on the fringes of the left for decades. Since Corbyn became party leader, numerous examples of antisemitic remarks made by Labour members, activists and elected officials have come to light. These remarks range from opposition to Israel’s existence or claims that Zionism collaborated with Nazism, to conspiracy theories about the Rothschilds or ISIS. The party has tried to tackle the problem of antisemitism through procedural means and generic declarations opposing antisemitism, but it appears incapable of addressing the political culture that produces this antisemitism: possibly because this radical political culture, borne of anti-war protests and allied to Islamist movements, is precisely where Jeremy Corbyn and his closest associates find their political home. A Crisis of Antisemitism Since early 2016, antisemitism has become a national political issue in Britain for the first time in decades. This hasn’t come about because of a surge in support for the far right, or jihadist terrorism against Jews. -
Labour, Antisemitism and the News – a Disinformation Paradigm
Labour, Antisemitism and the News A disinformation paradigm Dr Justin Schlosberg Laura Laker September 2018 2 Executive Summary • Over 250 articles and news segments from the largest UK news providers (online and television) were subjected to in-depth case study analysis involving both quantitative and qualitative methods • 29 examples of false statements or claims were identified, several of them made by anchors or correspondents themselves, six of them surfacing on BBC television news programmes, and eight on TheGuardian.com • A further 66 clear instances of misleading or distorted coverage including misquotations, reliance on single source accounts, omission of essential facts or right of reply, and repeated value-based assumptions made by broadcasters without evidence or qualification. In total, a quarter of the sample contained at least one documented inaccuracy or distortion. • Overwhelming source imbalance, especially on television news where voices critical of Labour’s code of conduct were regularly given an unchallenged and exclusive platform, outnumbering those defending Labour by nearly 4 to 1. Nearly half of Guardian reports on the controversy surrounding Labour’s code of conduct featured no quoted sources defending the party or leadership. The Media Reform Coalition has conducted in-depth research on the controversy surrounding antisemitism in the Labour Party, focusing on media coverage of the crisis during the summer of 2018. Following extensive case study research, we identified myriad inaccuracies and distortions in online and television news including marked skews in sourcing, omission of essential context or right of reply, misquotation, and false assertions made either by journalists themselves or sources whose contentious claims were neither challenged nor countered. -
2020 05 20 Maitles Weaponising Accepted
UWS Academic Portal Weaponising antisemitism Maitles, Henry Published in: Media Education Journal Accepted/In press: 20/05/2020 Document Version Peer reviewed version Link to publication on the UWS Academic Portal Citation for published version (APA): Maitles, H. (Accepted/In press). Weaponising antisemitism: review of Greg Philo, Mike Berry, Justin Schlosberg, Antony Lerman and David Miller, 2019 Bad News for Labour: Antisemitism, the Party and Public Belief (London: Pluto Press). Media Education Journal, 67, 38-41. General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the UWS Academic Portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact [email protected] providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 28 Sep 2021 Weaponising Antisemitism: Review of Greg Philo, Mike Berry, Justin Schlosberg, Antony Lerman and David Miller, 2019 Bad News for Labour: Antisemitism, the Party and Public Belief (London: Pluto Press). Henry Maitles, Emeritus Professor of Education, University of the West of Scotland Before I make my comments on the themes of this book – media representation and public belief; what could and should have been done about the charges of anti- Semitism; the impact and potential of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and its examples – I want to make it clear that this is a thoroughly welcome volume which helps us understand and combat the charges of antisemitism and racism being leveled at the Left. -
Momentum Campaigning - Current Campaigns
Momentum Press pack Press pack 1 Contents Pg. 3 About Momentum - Who we are, what we do and a brief history Pg. 5 Key statistics - Our membership, achievements, reach and impact Pg. 8 Momentum campaigning - Current campaigns Pg. 11 Case studies and quotes - From supporters to our critics Pg. 13 Contact information - Momentum’s press team Press pack 2 About us Who we are, what we do and a brief history Who we are Momentum is a people-powered, grassroots social movement working to transform the Labour Party and Britain in the interests of the many, not the few. What we do Momentum isn’t just an organisation - we’re a social movement, made up of tens of thousands of members who share a vision for a transformative Labour government. Momentum connects, mobilises and empowers ordinary people across the country. Together, we campaign locally and nationally to make our communities better, strengthen our rights and get Labour elected. Momentum offers networks, skill-shares and tech to strengthen our movement from the grassroots up. We support members to transform the Labour Party to be democratic and member-led. From Jeremy Corbyn’s successful leadership election, to Labour’s extraordinary electoral comeback in the 2017 general election, Momentum members are central to Labour’s success. A brief history Momentum might be a young organisation, but we’ve achieved a lot. Our members and supporters up and down the country are transforming the Labour Party and Britain for the better. The real story of Momentum is made up of the hundreds of thousands of small actions taken by grassroots members across the UK, but here are the major milestones in our growth and development since our establishment in 2015. -
Jamie Stern-Weiner Tis Ebook Edition Published by Verso 2019
anti-semitism and the labour party Anti-Semitism and the Labour Party Edited by Jamie Stern-Weiner Tis ebook edition published by Verso 2019 All rights reserved Te moral rights of the authors have been asserted Verso UK: 6 Meard St, London, W1F 0EG US: 20 Jay St, Suite 1010, Brooklyn, NY 11201 versobooks.com Verso is the imprint of New Lef Books ISBN-13: 978-1-78960-671-3 ‘Corbyn Under Fire’ and ‘Te Never Ending Story’, © Daniel Finn 2018, frst appeared in Jacobin. ‘Jeremy Corbyn is an Anti-Racist, Not an Anti-Semite’ © Jospehn Finlay, 2019, frst appeared in Times of Israel. 'Smoke Without Fire: Te Myth of the 'Labour Antisemitism Crisis’ © Jamie Stern-Weiner and Alan Maddison, 2019. ‘Te Chimera of British Anti-Semitism (and How Not to Fight It if it Were Real)’, frst appeared on Verso Blog © Norman Finkelstein, 2019; ’60 Times Jeremy Corbyn Stood with Jewish People’ © @ToryFibs; ‘Briefng for Canvassers: Challenging false allegations of antisemitism’ and ‘Te Riverside Scandal’ with permission from Jewish Voice for Labour; ‘A Disinformation Campaign’ © Media Reform Coalition, 2019; ‘Te Fake News Nazi: Corbyn, Williamson and the Anti-Semitism Scandal’ from Medians © David Edwards, 2019; ‘Is the Guardian Institutionally Antisemitic?’ and ‘Labour Party Conference or Nuremberg Rally? Assessing the Evidence’ from author’s blog, © Jamie Stern-Weiner 2019; ‘Hue and Cry over the UCU’ © Richard Kuper 2019; with permission of OpenDemocracy; ‘Why the Labour Party Should Not Adopt the IHRA Defnition or Any Other Defnition of Antisemitism’ from author’s -
The Labour Party
The Labour Party Head Office Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QT Labour Central, Kings Manor, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 6PA 0345 092 2299 | labour.org.uk/contact Dr Moshe Machover, zzzzzzzzzzzz BY EMAIL ONLY: [email protected] 30 November 2020 Ref: L1627330 Case No: CN-4925 Dear Dr Machover, Notice of administrative suspension from membership of the Labour Party Allegations that you may have been involved in a breach of Labour Party rules have been brought to the attention of national officers of the Party. These allegations relate to your conduct online and offline which may be in breach of Chapter 2, Clause I.8 of the Labour Party Rule Book. It is important that these allegations are investigated and the NEC will be asked to authorise a full report to be drawn up with recommendations for disciplinary action if appropriate. We write to give you formal notice that it has been determined that the powers given to the NEC under Chapter 6 Clause I.1.A* of the Party’s rules should be invoked to administratively suspend you from membership of the Labour Party, pending the outcome of an internal Party investigation. The administrative suspension means that you cannot attend any Party meetings including meetings of your own branch, constituency, or annual conference; and you cannot be considered for selection as a candidate to represent the Labour Party at an election at any level**. In view of the urgency to protect the Party’s reputation in the present situation the General Secretary has determined to use powers delegated to him under Chapter 1 Clause VIII.5 of the rules to impose this suspension forthwith, subject to the approval of the next meeting of the NEC. -
Bad News for Labour: Antisemitism, the Party and Public Belief
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THE EUROPEAN STATE and MINORITY RELIGIOUS GROUPS: EXPLORING PATTERNS of ENGAGEMENT and ACCESS By
THE EUROPEAN STATE AND MINORITY RELIGIOUS GROUPS: EXPLORING PATTERNS OF ENGAGEMENT AND ACCESS by Gerald T. FitzGerald A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of George Mason University in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Political Science Committee: _______________________________________ Peter Mandaville, Chair _______________________________________ Desmond Dinan _______________________________________ Justin Gest _______________________________________ Ming Wan, Program Director _______________________________________ Mark J. Rozell, Dean Date: __________________________________ Fall Semester 2017 George Mason University Fairfax, VA The European State and Minority Religious Groups: Exploring Patterns of Engagement and Access A Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at George Mason University by Gerald T. FitzGerald Master of Arts George Mason University, 2010 Bachelor of Science New York University, 2008 Director: Peter Mandaville Schar School of Policy and Government Fall Semester 2017 George Mason University Fairfax, VA Copyright 2017 Gerald T. FitzGerald All Rights Reserved ii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my late father Dermot, my mother Valerie, and my son Finn. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... vi List of Figures.................................................................................................................. -
The Inner Workings of British Political Parties the Interaction of Organisational Structures and Their Impact on Political Behaviours
REPORT The Inner Workings of British Political Parties The Interaction of Organisational Structures and their Impact on Political Behaviours Ben Westerman About the Author Ben Westerman is a Research Fellow at the Constitution Society specialising in the internal anthropology of political parties. He also works as an adviser on the implications of Brexit for a number of large organisations and policy makers across sectors. He has previously worked for the Labour Party, on the Remain campaign and in Parliament. He holds degrees from Bristol University and King’s College, London. The Inner Workings of British Political Parties: The Interaction of Organisational Structures and their Impact on Political Behaviours Introduction Since June 2016, British politics has entered isn’t working’,3 ‘Bollocks to Brexit’,4 or ‘New Labour into an unprecedented period of volatility and New Danger’5 to get a sense of the tribalism this fragmentation as the decision to leave the European system has engendered. Moreover, for almost Union has ushered in a fundamental realignment a century, this antiquated system has enforced of the UK’s major political groupings. With the the domination of the Conservative and Labour nation bracing itself for its fourth major electoral Parties. Ninety-five years since Ramsay MacDonald event in five years, it remains to be seen how and to became the first Labour Prime Minister, no other what degree this realignment will take place under party has successfully formed a government the highly specific conditions of a majoritarian (national governments notwithstanding), and every electoral system. The general election of winter government since Attlee’s 1945 administration has 2019 may well come to be seen as a definitive point been formed by either the Conservative or Labour in British political history. -
ANTISEMITIC MISCONDUCT Britain, 2017
Indirect discrimination could inadvertently occur, where actions have the effect of selectively disadvantaging Jewish people even though no hostile motive towards Jews is present. Once a case of such discrimination comes to light, those responsible should take all reasonable steps possible to eliminate the problem. Unwillingness to take such steps would be evidence of antisemitism. The systematic murder of millions of Jews (and so many others) during the second world war is exhaustively documented. It is therefore inconceivable that Holocaust denial or expressions of doubt over its scale could be Declaration on motivated by genuine investigatory scepticism. The implication of antisemitic intent is, for practical purposes, inescapable. What is - and what is not * See Institute of Jewish Policy Research report Antisemitism in Contemporary Great ANTISEMITIC MISCONDUCT Britain, 2017 7. Overview This document has been prepared by Jewish Voice for Labour and Free Speech on Israel as a contribution to the Labour Party’s consultation on its The understanding of antisemitism on which this analysis is based reaffirms Code of Conduct on Antisemitism. It also has a wider significance. the traditional meaning of the term. This is important in the light of attempts to extend its meaning to apply to criticisms often made of the state _____________ of Israel, or to non-violent campaigns such as BDS. A charge of antisemitism carries exceptional moral force because of the negative There has been extended controversy over the adoption by the Labour connotations rightly attaching to the term. It is illegitimate to make such Party of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) claims to discredit or deter criticism, or to achieve sectional advantage. -
Annual Report 1 August 2018–31 July 2019
Annual Report 1 August 2018–31 July 2019 RESEARCH EDUCATE ENGAGE Innovative | Interdisciplinary | Independent | Inclusive Annual Report 1 August 2018–31 July 2019 Pears Institute for the study of Antisemitism Professor David Feldman, Director 19 November 2019 Contents Overview of the Year 3 Institute Staff 4 Research 5 Grant Income 5 Publications 5 Conference Papers 8 Pears Institute Workshops and Seminars 9 Visiting Fellows 11 Teaching 12 Policy Engagement 14 Connecting Research and Public Policy 14 Policy Advice 15 Public Engagement 16 Public Exhibition: Jews, Money, Myth 16 Public Events 17 Pears Institute in the Media 20 Opinion Pieces 21 Interviews 21 Appendix 23 Selected Publications and Activities of Associates 23 3 Overview of the Year This annual report presents the Institute’s key achievements in 2018/19 across four main areas of activity: research, teaching, public policy and public engagement. It highlights how these achievements contribute to the Institute’s strategic objective of reframing the understanding of antisemitism and seeking to connect the study of antisemitism and racialization, acting as a catalyst for change. Significant accomplishments this year include: • Mounting the award-winning exhibition Jews, Money, Myth with the Jewish Museum London • Publication of the edited volume of essays Boycotts Past and Present: From the American Revolution to the Campaign to Boycott Israel • The development of a new short course, ‘Facing Antisemitism: Politics, Culture and History’ • The Institute’s growing reputation in the public sphere as a measured and clear voice on antisemitism • Three successful grant applications for young scholars • Lecturer Brendan McGeever selected as BBC Radio 3/AHRC 2019 New Generation Thinker.